FilOil: Aroga sizzles as Bulldogs hammer San Sebastian

MANILA, Philippines – The National University Bulldogs relied on Alfred Aroga as they beat the San Sebastian College Golden Stags, 76-61, to stay undefeated in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup, Friday, May 16, at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

From a 53-all deadlock at the end of the third, the Cameroonian Aroga owned the show as he scored a game-high 16 points – including the decisive baskets in the final canto – on top of six rebounds and an assist to put the F. Jhocson crew at 2-0 in the standings.

Glenn Khobuntin also delivered for NU as well as he tallied in just a rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds while also helping in limiting the Golden Stags to just eight markers in the final period. 

San Sebastian kept the Bulldogs on their toes in the opening canto as they leaned on rookie Michael Calisaan – who led the Golden Stags with 15 points – but coach Eric Altamirano’s wards asserted themselves in the second to enter halftime with a six-point cushion.

The Golden Stags, however, put on a searing run after the break as they stole the lead midway in the third quarter courtesy of timely hits from CJ Perez and Jeric Fabian but the Bulldogs came up with just enough composure in crunch time to tie the game at 53-all.

NU then opened the final quarter with eight unanswered points as Aroga, Paolo Javelona, and Troy Rosario piled up their points in the crucial stretch en route to a 76-61 win for the Bulldogs.

San Sebastian, which falls to 2-3, will try to bounce back against the unbeaten Centro Escolar University on May 26 while NU takes on the University of the Philippines on May 19. 

Backing Calisaan’s 15 is Perez who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds while Bradwyn Guinto added nine for the Stags.

Meanwhile, after pouring in 20 in their 106-67 opening game rout of Holy Trinity College, Reden Celda once again shone for NU as he contributed 12 points while Rosario, Javelona, and Henri Betayene pitched in eight, seven, and seven respectively.

Scores

National University 76 – Aroga 16, Khobuntin 13, Celda 12, Rosario 8, Javelona 7, Betayene 7,  Diputado 3, Alolino 2, Tansingco 2, Alejandro 2, Yu 2, Perez  

San Sebastian 61 – Calisaan 15, Perez 10, Guinto 9, Camasura 7, Fabian 6, Yong 6, Aquino 4, Costelo 4

By quarters: 17-17, 34-28, 53-53, 76-61

– Rappler.com